(HARRISBURG) – On
Monday, April 29 the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO was joined by state legislators to
demand safe workplaces for all workers in our Commonwealth. The fight for workplace safety and health
protections has been at the center of the Union Movement since its beginning. Every worker has the right to a safe
workplace; no worker should ever die on the job.

The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration was formed on April 28, 1971. The Labor
Movement observes this date as Workers’ Memorial Day in honor of the working
women and men who have died on the job in the previous year. There are more thank 577,000 public sector
workers who do not have OSHA protections in Pennsylvania. Labor leaders
and state legislators have announced their support for House Bill 1082, “Jake’s
Law”, which will public sector employees with safety and health protections, at
the Harrisburg Regional Central Labor Council’s Workers’ Memorial event.

In 2017, 172
workers died on the job in Pennsylvania, and there were 132,500 workplace injuries. With the 49 OSHA inspectors in our
Commonwealth, it would take 155 years to inspect every workplace. We must bring an end to the neglect of
workplace safety in our country.

Pennsylvania
AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder, Harrisburg
CLC President David Gash, along with Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene
Depasquale, State Representatives Pat Harkins and co-sponsors of House Bill
1082 held a press conference on worker safety and health at a Workers’ Memorial
Service in Harrisburg.

“Workers’ Memorial Day is our opportunity to underscore our
commitment to each other as workers and ensure that safety is always placed
ahead of corporate profits. We
wholeheartedly support House Bill 1082 to extend workplace safety and health
protections to our public sector brothers and sisters. Whether you work for a public or private
worker should not impact your right to a safe workplace,” stated Pennsylvania
AFL-CIO president Rick Bloomingdale.

“As we honor those workers who’ve lost their
lives on the job, we remain resolved in our fight to end needless workplace
fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Our
commitment to protecting workers from unsafe jobs will not subside until every
worker can go to work and return home safe and healthy at the end of the day,”
added Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder.